ATA seasonally adjusted index climbs up 0.5% in August

After a 0.5% rise in July, the American Trucking Association's (ATA) seasonally adjusted for-hire index climbed up from 139.1 in July to 149 in August this year. The index climbed up by nearly 7.1%. On a year-over-year basis, the index was up by 8.2% as compared to August 2016. According to the new report, the gain in July 2017 was improved from 0.1% to 0.5%.
The seasonally adjusted for-hire index represents the truck tonnage that was hauled after making seasonal adjustments. The not seasonally adjusted index representing the tonnage actually hauled before any seasonal adjustments are made climbed 10.5% from 141.6 in July to 156.4 in August. Economists at the ATA have said that the rise in the index is a strong economic indicator and has bypassed expectations. This can be attributed in part to the increase in port volumes as well as the preparation work for the hurricanes.
Experts predict that the gains in September could become more moderate and freight movement can be slower than normal owing to the disruption caused by the hurricanes hitting the country over the last month.